When FIA decided to open up the grid from the 2010 season, they eventually had to reject few applications. But then there were few interesting candidates that could have fared well then the current new teams on the grid. Did their selection policy backfired?

We do know that 15 applications were put forwarded to the FIA in 2009 and of them only few managed to see the light. Some of the applicants had bought the naming rights of yesteryear teams while some of them had rich financial backing. Couple of the applications were first of its kind as for them it was more about putting their country on the grid. Although the selection process itself was criticized by few, We managed to get three new teams. But of all the applications, those that were interesting or rather the ones that caught the media and the public attention were unfortunately the ones that couldn’t get through onto the grid. We can talk of USF1 founded by former designer Ken Anderson and journalist Peter Windsor and Stefan Grand Prix which is named after its founder Zoran Stefanovic who intended to be on the grid as the first Serbian team. These two applications were interesting, they brought lots of fanfare and many people were looking at these two teams with a keen interest. But unfortunately, one of them had to blame its own entity while the other ended up criticizing the FIA as neither could make it onto the grid.

USF1 had problems with mismanagement of its team, Its preparation can actually date back to February 24,2009 when Ken Anderson spoke on a television channel about his intent to submit an application to the FIA. It drew lots of surprised reactions, theoretically their plan was so amazing, the idea was to promote American culture in Formula 1. They wanted to set up couple of bases with one of them being in Europe while the other being in US and the next idea was to have two American drivers on the grid and although this plan was altered a bit later, it still remained as a plan for their future. Although Bernie Ecclestone and others expressed their doubts about this team’s participation in 2010 season. The team or most specifically Windsor and Anderson were adamant that everything is in place and they have signed José María López and also had a backing of Chad Hurley, Co-Founder of YouTube and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners an advertising agency. It has to be understood that Lopez himself was bringing in huge funds for the team. Further their ambitious chassis was revealed which was codenamed USF1 Type 1. They went on and said that the chassis would not be a clone of its rivals but rather would have an innovative package. A few months later it was revealed that Hurley backed off from the project and that Anderson had requested special permission from the FIA to permit his team to miss the first four rounds. Their cards fell one by one, with their team personnel all being dismissed from their duties and Lopez being relieved of his contract and on March 3rd when the FIA published the updated entry list of teams, it was revealed that USF1 had missed its berth. Eventually the cause of the shutdown was due to the fact that Anderson and Windsor had taken so much care about the project that all the decisions had to be taken only with their consent and this delayed several things and although their team personnel knew about the impending danger in December, Anderson and Windsor were made aware of this irregularity only in February. On June 24, 2010 FIA disciplinary hearing committee fined the team and banned them from competing in any FIA sanctioned Championships. Thus a great dream fell through.

The other entity that had so much attention was that of Stefan Grand Prix whose entry was although rejected in the first batch of FIA list that got published in June, The team were still so keen on participating in Formula 1 and made so much efforts for the same. Ironically Stefan Grand Prix bid to enter Formula 1 actually dates back to 1966 and also in 1997 where again they were rejected by FIA. Their preparations unlike the USF1 was very different, at the time of submitting the application to FIA, Stefanovic made it clear that he had sought the services of Mike Coughlan and had the backing of the Government of Serbia as well which meant they had the tendency to build up their own chassis and also manufacture their own engines if it required although the initial plan was to use engines from the current manufacturer teams. When their bid was rejected by FIA in June, they were still persisting on their plans to compete in Formula 1 for the 2010 season in case a situation arises. When Toyota announced their withdrawal from Formula 1, they were competing against Peter Sauber for the thirteenth grid slot. To ease out the matter, they sought Toyota’s help by acquiring their 2010 developmental chassis, gearbox and their 2010 spec engine. They also hired many of personnel from Toyota who were left without work. But unfortunately for them, the final entry went to Sauber. The team amazingly went on with its plans once again when the USF1 were in the midst of their crisis and although their original plan of merging its entity with USF1 went in vain. Stefanovic again contacted the FIA upon an last minute inclusion of its team but were given no support although this time it was understandable as it was too late. Amazingly, their preparation also included some of the ambitious ideas. They planned to test their chassis that they acquired from Toyota at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for a three day test but this was canceled due to an issue with the Official Tyre Supplier Bridgestone who stated that they aren’t entitled to supply F1 Spec Tyres to those teams that weren’t part of the official FIA list. Although Stefanovic tried to negotiate for a GP2 Tyre Spec, even that didn’t materialize. Upon being rejected by the FIA various times they planned for a young driver development programme throughout the season whereby the teams having such young driver development programmes can use Stefan Grand Prix for a in season testing as Stefan Grand Prix is immune from any of the FIA restrictions such as in-season testing which meant that it was a win-win situation for everyone as such kind of tests would increase the preparations for this Serbian Team if they get an entry into Formula 1 for the 2011 season. Unable to get an entry into the 2010 season, it was later announced that the team’s partnership with Toyota ended which would be renegotiated in future if the team was granted an entry for next season. Despite being rejected by FIA, Stefanovic later revealed that he would build a Stefan Technology park at Stara Pazova which would also include a Formula 1 standard circuit.

Although these two teams drew many fanfare, We have to mention few others who were very well prepared for their Formula 1 venture. Prodrive’s attempt to get into Formula 1 also included this famous controversial application as well {We term this controversial and we will get into this a bit later}. MSC Organization had also submitted its application to FIA under the name N.Technology which has an experience in Touring cars and Rallying. Although a bit later they were supposedly withdrawing their application following the FOTA-FIA fallout, they tend to be very much interested in the project after that. Former F1 driver Wurz in partnership with Superfund had also submitted an application. A British businessman who owns the rights of MARCH having submitted his application was in talks with various teams for the technology sharing but was also keen to set-up everything from scratch and had ambitious plans for its future provided he was granted an entry. Formtech which owns the rights to Brabham and like Prodrive was also very keen to enter Formula 1 for a while then and having purchased the assets of Super Aguri, they were looking in strong contention to get an entry as well {They had a dispute regarding the use of the name shortly after applying with Brabham deciding to sue Formtech} . Lola cars also announced on its website that they were looking forward to their Formula 1 return and they are taking an active interest in its recent developments.

15 Teams applied for the final slot in 2011. However on the eve of Italian GP, FIA announced that none of the applicants met the minimum funding or the engineering requirements thus leaving the final slot still vacant. The frontrunners for the 2011 season were Stefan GP, GP2 Team ART run by Nicolas Todt and the Epsilon Euskadi’s Team. The decision again raised few eyebrows and FIA however invited no such bids for the 2012 season.

The allegations against FIA and their selection process were massive in 2010. Stefanovic and N-Technology were one of the few parties that filed a petition against FIA for their selection process at the European commission. The allegation was simple, it was believed by various parties that the selection process favored individual teams and those who opted specifically for the cosworth engine. The entrants who were advanced in their F1 programme where by there had relationships with other teams for technology sharing or for engine were shown the door. This move was done to favor Cosworth engine as FIA wanted a relationship with an independent engine supplier as they didn’t always want to be under the mercy of the manufacturers given that FOTA was on the verge of breakaway series and various past issues mattered a lot to them as it could potentially leave the sport vulnerable for the future. Stefanovic further stated that these kind of restrictions in Formula 1 where the need of some teams to use Independent engines would actually mean that it is an act of restricting technical development, which not only restricts competition but also the image of Formula 1 as a whole. These teams also went on to say that FIA had been very vocal on them regarding their engine partner and they were literally forced to use Cosworth engine and when Stefan GP signed the cosworth deal they were anyway rejected.

Whether these allegations are true or not, nevertheless time and time again FIA hasn’t been able to allot a slot for those interested parties who are very much willing to enter Formula 1 under their own terms. Prodrive’s long ambition still remains a plan alone. We have to wonder if just for the long-term benefit if there was one, Did the selection committee's plans had actually backfired on them?

We may have no choice but to believe that it is the case considering how unstable one of the team is until now even after close to three years of its existence and how one of the teams collapsed even before the start. Marussia had completed a virtual takeover last season while Caterham being the best of the lot are still struggling to get into the comfort zone and they are yet to challenge the other midfield entries. with many of the other teams still concerned about their finances, We have to wonder whether this might make the sport more vulnerable and with the image of Formula 1 being constantly questioned by many, it shouldn’t have been a wise decision to reject those bids at that point. It’s pretty clear that had the FIA been more careful about its selection then those teams might that weren’t fortunate enough to enter Formula 1 just would have made a things a bit more easy as they were willing to be a part of Formula 1 under their own will and with Stefan Grand Prix taking over the Toyota Chassis they could have scored a point or two from their debut season which none of the new teams are capable of doing at the moment and more over with its ambitious plans that were put forwarded including their plan of building their own engine, F1 could have had more than three engines for the 2014 season which is one of the critical thing at the moment.

The criticisms and complaints will continue against FIA and Formula 1 and we might not be in a position to judge these allegations but what would have been a great deal is that, Had these teams been allowed to compete in Formula 1, We might have known more of its ambitions and its interest in a better way as by allowing these teams to compete in Formula 1, FIA had nothing to lose but at least for time being they would have revived the fortunes of many and the image of Formula 1 would have been greatly benefited by the entry of these teams and if the selection process were so legitimate then we wouldn’t have seen these new teams struggling for everything nor we wouldn’t have seen a team failing to take off itself even before it competed in Formula 1. With no major parties showing interest for now, We have to wonder if there will be any such ambitious parties in the future who will be willing to do it all to enter this political world of Formula 1.

The selection process of FIA is rather complicated. I myself am not happy with the way they consider the applications. I want to see the USF1 team on the racing track next year. They can bring some fresh talent to the racing field.

This website is unofficial and is not associated in any way with the Formula One group of companies. F1, FORMULA ONE, FORMULA 1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing B.V.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.